Device for obtaining a constant mixture of two elastic fluids.



A. o. EGNIDES, JB. DEVICE POR OBTAINNG A CONSTANT MIXTURE' OP TWG ELASTIC FLUIDS.

PLLATOHFILED SEPT. 1912. v

mente@ may 5, im

A. G. IGNEDES, JR.

DEVGE' FOR OBTAINING A, CONSTANT MIXTURE OF TWO ELASTIC PLUIDS. APPLEGATION FILED SEPT. s, 1912.

w A Eateliged May 5, i914. f

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. alomns, JR. lDEVICE FOR OBTAINING A CONSTANT MIXTURE OF TWO BLASTIG FLUIDS.

APLIGATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1912.

:Patented May 5, 1914..

5 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

...auf

A. C. ONIDES, JR. DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A CONSTANT MIXTURE 0F TWO ELASTICTLUID'S.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1912. Y 1,0958? l msnm may 5, im.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4A A. C. IONIDBS, JR. DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A CONSTANT MIXTURE QP TWo ELASTIG PLUTDS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3, 1912.

Patented may 5, 19m.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

\ 114.711,11. 5:1 'Illllll 1.-"-11' UNITE seras ra ont.

ALEXANDER CONSTAN'IINE IONIDES, JR., 0F LONDON, ENGLAND.

DEVICE FOR OBTAINING A CONSTANT M'IXTURE 0F TWQ ELASTIC FLUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

yApplication filed September 3, 1912. Serialv No. 718,372.

To all u-/iom it 'may concern:

Be it known that. I, ALEXANDER Coxsauiv 'PINE loxmns, Jr., a subject of the King otl Great Britain and Ireland, and residing at 'lorchest-er Terrace, London,4 lV., England, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Device for Obtaining a Constant Mixture ot' Two Elastic Fluids, of which Athe following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for obtaininga constant. mixture ot two elastic fiuids such .as gas and air, and particularly to that of the type in, which a member controls Simultaneously the valves by which the pressure, of the two irids is regulated. In suoli apparatuses has hitherto been proposed, vthe constantfmixtine is"obtained by reducing both fluids to the same pressure. As a result of thefloss in pressure lenergy thus incurred. the apparatus is unsuitable in eases`where there is a large differencebetween the pressure of the two fluids."

The object of the present `invent-ion is to overcome this disadvantage, and to provide a'n apparat-ns bywhich a mixture ot any strengthkcan be maintained constant inde-l pendently of variations in the rate at which the mixture is consumed, v

lThe invention consists in an apparatus of the above type in which the valvecontrolling member is maintained in equilibrium bybeing subjected to the static parto't thewhereby on applying an unbalanced torce to said member the strength of the mixture -is varied as desired.

rlheinvention also consists in th'eapparatas hereinafter described for obtaining a n L u n constant mlxture'ot two elastic iiuids.

Referring `now to l'the accompanying drawings r-Figuresl and 2 show in vertical section and -in plan respectively one form of the apparatus according to the present. invention. Figs. 2 and 2h are vertical sec#- 'tions` ot the regulating valves, 3 and 5, shown in Fig. Q. FiggS-isian outside elevation ot' :mother form of regulating appa- 'ratas :iccordinglo the present invention. Fig. Ll is a. verticalsection on the line, A, A, ot the apparatus shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical section ou the line B', 13 of Fig. 4. Fig. (l is a horizontal section 'on the line C, C, ot- Fig. 3. Figs. 7 and 8 show in elevation details of the gas and air valves used in the apparatus illustrated in the preceding figures numbered 3 to 6 inclusive, and Fig.

enlarged scale one side ot' the device shown 11i Fig. 4.

One form. of an apparatus according to the present invention is shown in Figs. ly and 2, for obtaining a constant proportion mixture of coal gas and air. The'gas passes to a mixing chamber, 1, by way of a conduit, Q, controlled by a valve, 3, while the air is supplied b v a conduit-, Il, controlled by the valve,v 5.. The gas and air valves, 3 and 5 respectively,are of any suitable type lso long as they offer a minimum resistance to operation. As shown by way of example in Figs. 9. and 2", sach valves are of lthe disk type in which slides, aand 5 control valvevopenings, 3b and 5b respectively, such openings being arranged as shown with respect to one another, so that when 'one valve is closing the other is opening. The slides,

3 and 5a, ot' these v 'al'ves are connected to y a spindle, 6, which passes through the side walls of la metal tank,` 7, containing liquid Patented May 5, 1911.4.,

'9 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing on an elo up vto a level,. a, a; suitable bearings and packings being provided at the place where the spindle, G, passes through the tank walls. Upon the spindle, 6, there is mounted a member hereinafter known as a bell cham bei', which consistsin a metal casing, 8inclosing a chamber, 9, which is sealed by the liquid in the tank. n v

To the chamber, 9, gasis'adinitted through a conduit, 10, whichpasses through the tank wall and branches from the main gas conduit, 2, on the outlet side of the gas regulating valve, 3. As the gas thus admitted to the bell chamber, t), cannot pass out therefrom, the internal surface ot' the casing, S', is subjected to the static pressure of the `gas in' the conduit, 2, and is thus unaffected by any pressureI arising from the velocity with which the gas is passing through the conduit,2. In a similar way the Aexternal surtace of the casing, 8, is subjected to the@ static pressure of the air in ,the main air conduit, 4, which is in communication with the space,1l, above the liquid leveL'ff/fm by means of another conduit, l2, branching` from thc air conduit-4i, on the outlet side circular metal disks connected together by a rod, 14:, to which is attached a cord passing over a pulley, l5, and carrying the required weight, 16. As the weight, 16, balances the dili'erence between the oppositely acting forces on the casing, 9, due to the gas and an' pressures thereon'. equilibrium only exists for a certain ratio 7between such ,pressures which ratio can be varied at will by altering the weight, 1G.-

Any variation in the pressure of the gas or air ellecls a slight angular movement ot' thc casing, 8, until equilibium is restored by the inverse operation of the valves, 3 and 5. The ratio between the pressure ol the gas inside and that of the nair outside the easing, 8, being thus maintained constant a mixture of gas and air in the desired constant proportions passes to the mixing chamber, l, and that in spite of variation in the pressure et supply of each gas or in the rate ol consum ption of the mixture.

lnstead ol' the bell chamber casing, 8, being balanced by an external system oli' forces, the balance may be effected by providing a second `bell chamber casing mounted upon the same spindle as the first casing and arranged fliametrically opposite thereto, each of said casings being placed in separate chambers and subjected internally to the static pressure of the fluid to which the external surface of the other casing is subjected. Such an arrangement is shown by way of example in Figs. 3 to 8 in which the regulating ap )arat'us consists in a suitably supported tank, 17, which is filled with a liquid such as oil, up to the level, a, a, and is closed by a lid, 1S, which, extends below said liquid level. rthe lid, 18, carries a partition wall, l5), which projecting below the liquid level, divides the space above the liquid into two separate chambers, 2O and 2l, in which. are situated the bell chamber casings- The latter have, according to the form illustrated, side walls, 22, consisting oi rigidly attached lto a hollow spindle, which runs on suitable hall bearings, placed between ,itself ancla spindle, iwalls, 2h, extending radially7 outward from the spindle, 23, and circum- `lierentially around the edge of said disks cnact with the sealing liquid to form segmental bell chambers, 2.7 and Q8, which are situated in the chambers 2O and 2l respectively.

Branching` 'from the main air conduit is a pipe, Q9, which passes through the wall of the tank, 17, and projects above the liquid level, e, a, therein, whereby the inner surface of the bell chamlnxr, 2'?, is subjected to the .dus

static pressure of the air flowingv in the main air conduit. A similar pipe, 80, causes the internal suriace ot' the bell chamber, Q8, to be subjected to the static pressure of the gas in the main gas conduit, while further ,pipe connections, 31 and 3Q, place the chambers, 2O and 21, in comnfmnieationv withthe gas and air conduits respectively. Instead, however, of placing the main air and gas valves and the pipe connections from the regulator thereto entirely outside the regulator as in the 'previous form of the device, the casings, and 34C, of the gas and air valves respectively are vattached on each side of the tank casing, 17, and lid, 18, the chamber within each of these casings being divided into two compartments by plates, 255 and 236. 'lo the compartment between thc plate, $35, and the tank wall gas is admitted from the main conduit, 3T, and ypasses by .ray of an opening, 8S, in the plate, 35, into the compartment on the outer side ol said plate and thereafter' into the conduit, 39, leading to the mixing chamber, l. In a similar manner the air flowing in the main air conduit, 40, passes into the compartment between the plate, 36, and the adjacent tank wall and from thence by way' of an opening, Lll, in the plate, 3G, to the conduit, 42 which also leads to the mixing chamber.

As the quantity of gas and air passing in the main conduits will thus depend upon the area of the openings, 3S and Ill, in the plates, 35 and 36, respectively, means are provided hy which such area is varied. directly in aecordanee with the movement of the bell chambers. According to one construction the spindle, 23, on which the bell lchambers are secured carries two cranks, 43 and 44, capable of angular movement within separate chambers, by the liquid in the tank, the bell chamber casings being as shown of such a shape that their movementvis unaffected by the crank chambers.

Openings 47 and 48 in the tank walls and lid allow the cranks 43 and 441 to engage respectively with slides, and 50, which in moving vary the area of the openings, 38 and 4l, in the plates, 35 and 36, in the gas and air valves. Each of the valve slides, 49 and 50, is carried by arms, 5l, which are attached to a central boss, 52, that belonging to the valve being rotatable about a suitable pivot fixed inthe plate, 35, while. that belonging to the air valve is rigidly mounted upon a similar pivot which, however, is movable 'relatively to the plate, 36. The slides,

49 and 50, are as shown in Figs. 7 and 8,

preferably connected to the two arms, 5l, by hinges, 53, the axes of which are in line with one another whereby the slides always lie flat on their respective valve plates.

By arranging the one'slide diametrically opposite the other in the manner shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the crank, 43 engages with a rod,.54, attached to the rotatable boss, 52, whilev the crank, 4.4-, engages directly with the valveslide 50, it will be seen that the weight oi` one valve slide will be exactly balanced by that of the other. The-valve slides, 49 andO, having been thus l and 46, which are sealed arranged, the plates, 35 and 36 are placed so that the openings, 38 and 41, therein are in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 With respect to one another, so that when one valve slide such as the gas valve slide, 49, is moving in a clockwise direction,- the opening, 38, is being uncovered While the air valve slide 50, in moving in the same direction, is closand air having passed through the main,

valve is conducted by the conduits, 89 and 42, into separate chambers, and 56, and from thence by way of openings, 57 and 58, into the mixing chamber, l, the latter being if desired attached to the outer Walls of the regulator. The openings, 57 and 58, ar'e controlled by suitable valves which may as shown comprise sliding plates 59 and G0,

each of which is provided with a toothed' ,rack engaging with pinions 61 and (32 which are mounted upon shafts capable of being rotated independently from the exterior ot' the mixing chamber, say by means of a milled head, 63. In this way the valve slides, 59 and 60, can be adjusted to allow the gas and air to pass to the mixing chainber in any desired' proportions.

In order to prevent the gaseous mixture returning to thc conduits, 39 and 42, the openings, 57 and .38, are further controlled by non-return valves of any type such as that illustrated, in which each is` provided with a plate, 64, suspended in such a manner that the valve remains closed'either when there is a back pressure in the system or no gas or air flow. The static connections for the gas and air now branch directly from the valves controlling said fluids; tliat is, the pipe connections, 30 and QS), by which the in terior of the bell chalibers 27 and Q8 is subliected to the static pressure of the gas and air respectively are connected to the respective valve compartments between the plates, 3G and the valve casing walls, 3S, 34, while from these compartments there branch the pipe connections, 8l and 39 by which vgas and air are respectively admitted to the chambers, .20 and 21. In this way there is obtained an exceedingly compact arrangement ot the various valves and pipe connections, which latter lare thus/less liable to injury when in use or during transit.

In-using'an apparatus of this kind the valves .39 and C() are first adjusted so that the area et the openings, 57 and 58 will allow gas and air to pass to the mixing chamber in the desired proportions. It now for'any-reaso-n the gas pressure in the mains for example increases, the bell chambers will as can be seen from Fig. 5,' move about the spindle 25 in an anti-clockwise direction and thereby eitect a closing ot the main gas valve and at the same time'an opening of the main air valve. It' on the other hand therey is a decrease in the pressure at which the gas is supplied lthe bell chambers will move in a clockwise direction, and` thereby open the gas regulating valve and at the same time close the air regulating valve, while it the pressure of the air vary, the regulating valves will be automatically adjusted until the equilibrium of the bell chambers is re stored, under which condition the ratio between the pressure of the gas and that of the air is always '-constant, A mixture of gas and air in constant proportions is thus obtained in spite of variation in the pressure ot-supply of either constituent, or of tluctuations in the rate' of consumption of thc mixture. i

Obviously the difference between'the piessiires of the two.`fluicls in such an apparatus can be varied as desired by simply weighting the respect-ive gas or air bell chamber casing. For example, to enable the gas to bev used at a greater pressure than theair, the bell chamber'to which gas is admitted is acted upon by a lforce having a constant moment about the axis of the spindle, 23 this being effected as indicated-in Fig. 9, by attaching a `suitable Weight, G5, by means of a cord, 6G, to a pulley, G7, which is rigidly mounted upon the pivot, 68, carrying the boss, 52, and arms, 5l, by which the torque produced by the weight is transmitted to the bell chamber casings.

By employing a plurality 'of apparatus according to the present invention, a. con: stant'strength mixture of any number ol fluids can be obtained.

Obviously, the bell chamber within the tank may be constructed in many Ways proiio vided that in combination with. a liquid sea-l.M

it is capable-of producing separate chambers or compartments for the separate flu-ids'l which afterward constitute the lluid mix-` ture.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure' by Letters Pateiitisr-v 1. An apparatus for obtaining a constantl mixture of two elastic fluids, comprising in rcombination a member simultaneouslyv regulating the pressure of each fluid, said inein- Aber being maintained in equilibrium by the static part of the regulated pressure of one fluid acting thereon in opposition-to the static part of the regulated pressure ot' the' other fiiiid,and means for applying a force of variable magnitude` to said member whereby the ratio existing between `the pressure of the two fluids when the ineinber is y. An apparatus `for ,obtaining a constant mlilxture of vtwo elastic fluids comprising iii combination aA separate valve for regulatingthe pressure of each fluid, a member connected to said valves, and operating the latter inversely with respect to one another, said member being maintained in equilibvrium by the static part vof the regulated pressure of one. fluid acting in opposition thereon to the static part of the regulated pressure of the other fluid, and means-for applying a force to said member to vary the ratio existing between the pressure of the two fluids when the member is in equilibrium, wherebya constant mixture of' any desired strength is continuously produced.

3. An'apparatus for obtaining a constant mixture of' two elastic fluids comprising lin combination afseparate valve for regulating the pressure of each fluid, bell chamber means connected with said v: lves to control the latter simultaneously, said bell chamber means beingl maintained in equilibrium by the static part of' the regulated. pressure of one fluid acting thereon in opposition to the static part of the regulated pressure of the other fluid, and means for applying a force of whereby the ratio existing between the pres.- sure of the two fluids when'the member is in equilibrium can' be varied, and a constant mixture of.' any desired strength thereby continuously obtained.

4. Au apparatus for obtaining a constant mixture of.' two elastic fluids comprisingl in combination separate valves for regulating the pressure of' each fluid, a casing containing liquid, a member connected to said valves and situated within said casing so as to form an internal chamber sealed by 'the liquid therein said member being subjected internally to the static part ot' the regulated pressure of' one fluid and externally yto `the staticpart of the regulated pressure of the second fluid, and means for applying a torce to said member, whereby the ratio existing between the internal and external pressures on said member when the latter is in equi` librium can be varied and a constant mixture of any desired strength continuously obtained.

5. An apparatus for obtaining` a constant mixture of two elastic fluids which are supplied iii separate conduits, comprising in -combination a casing containing liquid, a

member capable of angularI movement withui said casing. said member forming with the liquid in the casing a liquid sealed'chambei', separate valves controlling the flow of the fluids in saidiuniduits, branch conduits 'from each supply conduit on the outlet side 'ariable magnitude to said linember,

latte in equilibrium automatically mainv of said-"valves, one of the branch conduits passing into tl-iebell chamber and the other into the space above the liquid in the casing, whereby said member is subjected internally to the static pressure of one fluid, and externally to that of the other, and connecting ineans between said member and yeach valve whereby the valves in being operated to keep the bell chamber member' in equilibrium maintain 'a constant ratio between the pressures of the two fluids before mixing.

6; A-n apparatus for obtainingl a constant mixture of' two elastic fluids which are supplied from separate conduits, comprising in combination a casing containing liquid, a member capable of angular movement within said vcasing'and 'forming with said liquid a liquid sealed chamber, a regulating valve in each supply conduit, said Valves be ing arranged to operate inversely with re-` spect to one another, a branch conduit from one Huid supply conduit on the outletI side `of the valve therein to the chamber within said member, and another branch conduit from the outlet side of the regulating` valve in the other conduit to the space above the liquid in the casing whereby said member is subjected to the static pressure of the fluids acting in opposition to one another, and means connecting said member with each regulating valve, whereby the valves in being controlled by said member to keep the tain a constant ratio between the pressures ofi the two fluids before mixing.

7. An apparatus for obtaining a constant mixture ot two elastic fluids which are supplied by separate conduits, comprising in combination a casing containing liquid, a partition dividing the space above the liquid in the casing into two liquid sealed compartments, a member within each compartment and ioriuiug with the liquid in the casing a liquid sealed hell chamber, a common shaft about which the two bell chambers thus formed are movable, valves connected to said members and controlling the fluids in each conduit, means by which each mein` ber is internally subjected to the static pressure of the fluid to which the other member is externally subjected, said pressure being that on the outlet side of theregulating valves, Awhereby the two bell chamber niembers in being maintained in equilibrium about said shaft by the static pressures of the twofiuids, automatically operate the regulating valves to maintain constant the 'atio between the pressures at which the two fluids are supplied.

8. An apparatus for obtaining :i constant mixture of two elastic fluids which are supplied by separate conduits, comprising in combination a casing containing liquid, a partition dividing the space above the liquid ments, a shaft mounted within and forming sin the casing into two liquid sealed compartments, a member within each compartment with the liquid in the casin a liquid 'sealed bell chamber, a common sha t about which the two bell chambers thus formed are movable, valves connected with said members and controlling the fluids in each conduit, means by which each member is internally subjected to the static pressure of tin l fluid to which the other memberis externally subjected, said pressure being that on the outlet side of the regulating valves, whereby the two bell chamber members in being maintained in equilibrium about said shaft by the static pressures of two fluids, automatically operate the regulating valves to maintain constant the ratio between the pressures at which the two fluids are supplied, and means for varyinG the strength of the constant mixture ci two fluids thus obtained.

9.- An apparatus for mixture of two elastic fluids and air which are supplied by separate conduits, compris ing in combination a casing containing liquid, a partition dividing the space above said liquid into two liquid sealed compartsaid casing and situated parallel with the partition therein, two m Ynbers rigidly connected togetlier but ca Jable of angular movement about said sha t, each member being situated `within a ,separate compartment, and having an open interior forming with the liquid in the casingr a liquid sealed chamber, separate valves controlling the flow of gas and air in obtaining -a constant their respective conduits, said valves being' connected to the two bell chamber members, a branch conduit from the gas conduit on the outlet side of the gas controlling valve to the chamber within one of said members, a

' branch conduit from the air conduit von the outlet side of the air controlling valve to the space above the liquid in the compartmentcontaining the member to the gas pressure, conduits by which the other bell chamber member is internally subjected to the static pressure of the air in the air supply conduit and externally to that of the gas lin the gas conduit, whereby the static pressures of the gas and air in being thus utilized to maintain the two bell chamber members in equilibrium automatically cause the latter to operatethe gas and-air controllingvalves to maintain a constant ratio between the pres# subjected 'internally two other vsimilar branch sures ofthe gas and air before mixing takes place.

10. An apparatus for obtaining a constant mixture of two elastic fluids comprising in combination a separate valve for regulating the pressure of each fluid, a iiiemherconnected to said valves and operating the latter inversely with respect to one another, said member being maintained in e the static pait of the regulate pressure of one fluid acting in opposition thereon to the static part of the regulated pressure of the other fluid, means for applying a force to said member in order to vary the ratio exuilibrium by isting between the pressure of the two fluids4 when said member is in equilibrium, a chamber in which said fluids mix after passing through the regulating valves and suitable valves for controlling the flow ot fluid to said chamber, whereby a constant mixture of any desired strength is continually produced.

l1. An apparatus for obtaining a constant mixture of two elastic fluids which are supplied in separate conduits comprising in combination a casing containing liquid,'a partition dividing the space above said liquid into two ber within each comiliart-ment and forming with theliquid in the casing a liquid-sealed bell chamber, a common shaft about 'which the two bell chambers thus formed are movable', valves connected to said membersand controlling the fluid in each 'conduit means by which each member is internally subjected to the static pressure of the fluid to which the other member is externally subjected, said pressure being that on the outletside of the regulating valves, a chamber in which the fluids mix after having passed through said valves, and means Jfor regulating the flow of fluid into said mixing chamber whereby 4the two bell chamber members in being maintainedin equilibrium about said shaftby the static pressure of the two 'fluids automatically operate the regulating valves to maintain constant the ratio beliquid-sealed compartments, a memtween the pressures of the fluids entering Y the mixing chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER CONSTANTINE IONIDES, JR.

Witnesses:

DAVID HENDERSON, ALLAN BAXTER. 

